If you are going to steal, make sure you steal big. You're more likely to get away with it, or get off lightly, compared to what a small time thief will get. The same goes with corruption, which is a white collar theft. Go for the big one rather than for small change.

That seems to be the message that our courts of law keep sending through many of their rulings pertaining to cases of theft and corruption.

The judiciary, supposedly the nation's bastion of justice, seems to be suffering from a deficiency in its sense of justice. It is completely detached from the public it is supposed to serve.

The case of Minah, the elderly woman tried for stealing three cacao pods worth 15 US cents, is a case in point. Minah stole the cocoa pods in desperation. Then returned them. The villager was then tried, convicted and given an option of serving 45 days in jail or three months probation.

Compare this with the celebrated case of Anggoro and his brother Anggodo, who clearly have treated the law with such contempt, yet are still roaming free.

What about Robert Tantular of Bank Century who only got four years although he nearly triggered systemic collapse in the banking system?

These big time crooks not only employ the most expensive lawyers they can hire in the country, but as Anggoro and Anggodo show, they try to influence the course of justice to secure favors from the legal system.

If that was not enough, bring in the religious leaders to speak for you. Former Golkar chairman Akbar Tandjung at the height of investigation for corruption in the state logistics agency Bulog, got prominent kiyais to say that in Islam, as long as the money is returned, it does not constitute theft.

There were no big shot lawyers and no kiyai to speak for Minah.

And the same goes for Bibit Samad Rianto and Chandra M. Hamzah, the suspended deputy chairmen of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in their battle against the powerful National Police and the Attorney General Office.

They are lucky though to have young lawyers working pro-bono to defend them.

Justice in Indonesia is for sale to the highest bidder. Indonesia has two sets of laws: one for the poor and weak, and one for the rich and powerful.

As long as this remains, there is all the more reason for many people to steal, and to steal really big to make it worthwhile.

No wonder that this country, although so blessed with so many natural resources, is always on the verge of bankruptcy.